User Reviews

On tap at Pete's Garage. In the dimly lit restaurant, the beer is seemingly black, only traced with a wood-stained brown around the very edges when held up to the light. It's capped with a coffee-and-cream colored head that mellows out at a few millimeters thick and leaves small bits of wet, dripping lacing on the sides of the glass.

Chocolate malt is the first thing that my senses pick up on as I take my first whiff - it's got a hefty, dry cocoa aroma to it. Crushed coffee beans, burnt caramel, and some roasted malts make up the remainder of the malt bill contribution. Hops are in full force; leafs, mild pine, and even a small, citrus-filled finish. Reminds me a little of Shorts' Goodnight Bodacious, only this one is a little more tame and not quite as coffee-heavy.

The citric character in the nose is only amplified on the palate - heavy citrus up front; a good helping of peppery grapefruit and tangerine. It's actually almost tart for a brief moment before the leafy and herbal notes start to creep in and take over. The malts crescendo through the background and halfway through, they are in full force; slightly roasted coffee beans, cocoa powder, and some charred wood. The aftertaste is full of burnt hops with a roasty malt and faintly citric flavor combination. Medium bodied, decent carbonation with a slick and almost crisp mouth feel.

I don't know why, but I wasn't feeling the vibe on this one quite like everyone else. It was okay, but not something I would seek out or pick up again, unless I had a super-huge craving for a black IPA and there were no other one's available. I'd take both Shorts' black IPAs over this one (Bludgeon Yer Eye and Goodnight Bodacious). I guess my main complaint with this is that the citrus profile of the hops didn't mesh too favorably with the malt bill. I would have rather seen more herbal, ashy, spicy hops. Wish in one hand, I guess.

thanks to zaphog for looking out in a LNBA BIF. enjoyed from a mystery brewing tulip.

a - brew poured watery black with a thin grey white head that had some creaminess to it. hung out for a bit, but eventually vanished leaving a thin skin of heady bubbling and lace chunks on the surface.

s - strong hopping over roasted malts.

t - just like the smell, strong hopping over roasted malts. bitterness is more subtle.

m - medium bodied, decent bitterness not overly hoppy.

o - overall, not wild about this style less a few examples. just had a short's double black ipa (goodnight bodacious) and feel that this is pretty similar except the shorts had a bit more heat and the hopping on the shorts was a bit more present and gave the beer a bit more character. this one is not bad, and worth checking if you dig the style, but for me, this was just pretty good.

Poured slowly down the side of a nonic from a 12 oz bottle. Dark in color. Light barely peeks through a dark amber window around the edges. Left a pinky thick, dark sandy colored head that was light and foamy and disappeared into a silky beer ceiling. Very light lacing.

Aroma: Coffee apparent. A subtle long grass breeze swoops in followed by a spicy chocolate. Spice slightly tickles the back of your throat.

Taste: Coffee comes through first. Its quickly followed by sweet chocolate and a grassy hop character. All is pushed aside by a tongue lashing of spicy hop character that sticks to your gums and teeth. Spice slowly fades out and leaves you with a grassy bubble gum to chew on until you take your next drink.

Mouth feel: Medium body. Its a bitter beer at 85 IBU's. The hops takeover here. Water feel at first followed by the medium body that turns into thick hop, bitter consistency.

Overall: A great beer. Solid! Has everything you could want from a Black IPA. Greenbush is coming. Look out!

This is a good looking beer. Pours very dark with a medium-high viscosity. Very rich and creamy head that is a mocha color. Looks exciting!

An ok aroma, but I'm not crazy about it. I detect a faint hop character, but the nose is more about the malt. Very sweet smelling, almost like a sweet stout. I detect dextrose, corn, and caramel as well as some faint hops, which are mostly hidden.

A nice flavor. It's rich and full-bodied, but less sugary than it smells (although it's still sweet). There is some nice roast malt flavor. The beer finishes dry due to the malt and hop bitterness. A nice balance making for a drinkable beer.

Kind of a confusing texture. The beer almost feels like a porter. It leaves a syrupy layer which is astringent and smoky. I wish it drank lighter. Carbonation is medium-high.

I like the beer, but it didn't blow me away. It's a fun drinking beer with a really pleasant flavor. It's also an exceptionally good-looking beer. My favorite feature by far.

I picked up a bottle of Greenbush's Anger last week for $1.69 at The Lager Mill. I'm still working my way through Greenbush's lineup, I haven't had this beer before but I have had Rage before which I think is suppose to be the imperial version of this beer, I'm in the mood for a Black IPA tonight, so lets see how it goes. No visible bottling date, I know it's fairly fresh since they just showed up. Poured from a 12oz brown bottle into an imperial pint glass.

A- The label looks nice, it had a nice darker look to it that went nice with the name which I also like, Anger just seems like a fitting name for a Black IPA. It poured a nice black color that let hardly any light come through with two fingers worth of medium tan head that died down to a thick ring that stayed till the end and left some nice rings of lacing behind. This is a pretty good looking Black IPA, I have no complaints.

S- The aroma is pretty intense and it starts off with a higher amount of medium sweetness that had a slight brown sugar like aroma to it followed by a good amount of hops that impart a pretty big resiny and piney aromas with a slight bit of citrus hops that add a little more depth. Up next comes the malts which also stick out a good deal and impart some dark, roasted, and almost charred malt aromas followed by some nice chocolate and coffee aromas and there was also a slight boozy aroma. This beer had a pretty good aroma, it was intense and fairly complex, I enjoyed it.

T- The taste seems to be pretty similar to the aroma and it starts off with a slightly higher amount of medium sweetness that had a slight brown sugar flavor to it and it's followed by a nice amount of hops with some resiny, piney and citrusy hop flavors all showing up equally making for a nice and unique hop profile. Up next comes the malts which impart some dark roasted malts flavors that had a slight charred flavor to them and were followed by a nice medium amount of coffee and chocolate flavors. Towards the end I get a real slight boozy flavor followed by a medium amount of bitterness with a half and half mixture of roasted malts with some resiny and citrus hops in the aftertaste. This was a good tasting Black IPA, it was well balanced and pretty unique.

M- fairly smooth, creamy, on the thicker side of being medium bodied, with a nice amount of medium carbonation. This beer had a good mouthfeel, it worked nicely with it and I have no complaints.

I thought this was a good beer and a good and unique example of a Black IPA, it was nicely balanced with neither the hops or the malts being too overpowering and it wasn't overly bitter. This beer had decent drinkability, it was fairly smooth and the flavor did a good job at holding my attention, but I couldn't see myself drinking more than two of these, this seems like a nice fall time beer. What I liked the most about this beer was the aroma, it was enjoyable and pretty unique, I liked it. What I liked the least about this beer was nothing, I don't think that there's anything that I would change with this beer, it's fine just the way it is. I would buy this bee again when in the mood for a nice and unique Black IPA and I think it's priced well, I would recommend this to anyone who likes Black IPA's. All in all I enjoyed this beer, it did remind me a lot of Rage, but much less intense which made it much more enjoyable. I thought this was a good Black IPA, I still think that Arcadia's B Craft is still my favorite Black IPA, but this beer isn't that far behind. I've been pretty impressed with these new Greenbush beers, it seems like all the beers I have had from them haven't tasted like anything I have had before and I really like that, Keep up the good work guys.

T. Good level of hop taste up front, some malts, full bodied, toasted nutty flavor, roasted coffee. The balance falls apart as the beer finishes with a heavy handed dose of anise that sticks to the mouth.

O. The charred lack licorice taste left a bad aftertaste and a lot to be desired. I will not be having this again.

O: This is my second offering from Greenbush, and never has a newer brewery impressed me like they have. I love everything they've done with this one, the maltiness, the hoppyness, watch out for Greenbush Brewing!

Had on tap for $5.99 a pint at Terry's Terrace in Harrison Township (?), Michigan.

Just not as impressed as the majority of people here.

Appearance: Pitch black with a creamy finger or two of head. Pretty gorgeous, if I may say so. The lacing doesn't last through the whole glass, but it's nice looking regardless.

Smell: Quite interesting, like the taste is... smells like a stout or dark coffee with hops. Has roasted malts, coffee, and... hops.

Taste: A lot like the smell, but with tastes of char and smoke as well. The hops aren't present initially, but kick in on the finish. It definitely has a different taste for the average craft beer drinker (whatever that means), but it's certainly not an unpleasant one. I definitely preferred this beer when it was a little bit colder than room temperature -- once it warmed up, the alcohol could be traced, there was a warmth in the throat, the primary taste was that of smoked wood, and the bitterness really kicked in. I didn't hate it, but it was certainly tastier within the first 15-20 minutes of having it, as it seemed to just be more balanced.

It isn't my favorite of the style, but it has a unique taste to it... it had me thinking, and it really changes quite a lot the more it warms up. Wouldn't be my go-to black ale, but it's a very nice offering from a brewery that I have never heard of. Good going, Greenbush.

I was able to try Anger from Green BUSH at a local tavern that just recently opened. The beer poured a dark nearly opaque amber with thin slightly off-whote head that left spotty lacing. The smell included piney hops and subtle roast. The taste started just as most IPAs ....a nice piney citrus that was quickly replaced with roast and then bittering hops that helped to cleanse the pallet. The mouthfeel was a medium body with smooth carbonation. Overall the beer was decent....but comapred to the Stone SSRIPA it was not as good. I would definitely have it again....and again....and again....if I see it in the future.

Half finger head with nice lacing on a jet black body. Aroma is balanced with roasted malts, earthy hops, with light coffee and vanilla. Flavor is also fairly well balanced for the style with roasted malts and dark chocolate mingling well throughout with the earthy and slightly floral/grassy hops. Medium body and light to moderate carbonation. So many of these aren't very well balanced and either are more of a stout or an IPA but the balance here makes this a nice black IPA it's jut not complex enough to make it the best but still one to try while at the brewery.

t - more of the nose. pine resin, roasted barley, faint grapefruit, faint dark fruits. has an herbal bitterness that hangs on the tongue for quite a while. really an interesting flavor profile. tastes...angry.

t - lighter in body with lighter carbonation and a medium co2 profile.

o - an interesting take on the style. not quite like any other beer i have tried. memorable, but maybe just shy of greatness. worth trying if you come across it.

I had several beers on tap at Greenbush on 8/11/2012. By far this beer was the highlight. Noting that I am not a fan of the genre of black ale, I was particularly impressed with this one.

The ale was black in the pint glass with a slighlty off-white head. There was a slight lacing in the glass, though not note-worthy. The aroma was a borderline rancid level of hops. Hopheads will love the aroma. The ale had a smooth mouthfeel, though it was somewhat thin. Citric notes such as grapefruit and pine accompanied a mild maltiness. In the aftertaste, a mild maltiness became more apparent as the citrus notes faded.

Black ales are often an explosion, like every member of a band playing their loudest note at the same time. Anger allows the individual notes of a black ale to stand out.

A: Pours out a deep black color with some reddish hues. Only a mild quarter finger of light tan head. Some slight lacing bits.

S: I get a good amount of hops on the nose. Piney, earthy hop aromas. Behind that is some I do get a touch of roast coffee and some chocolate.

T: I get that hop bitterness on the tip of the tongue (and through the mouth). Don't know if it's 85ibus but it's nicely bitter. You certainly get that piney hop bitter flavor. I does overpower the dark malts, which surprises me. Wish it meshed better and blended the styles more. As it warms, I get a little more light roast and chocolate. Finish is actually creamy along with bitterness.

A: Pours a very dark brown with little to no lacing on my glass. However, the waitress filled my pint up to the brim (thank you!), so it may have had some at one point. It's definitely not very sticky, which concerns me that it may be a bit "watery," but we shall see.

S: Suprised. I smell a lot more hops than any roasted malts, which is not typically of many other Black IPAs that I've had. In fact, I don't smell anything else other than the hops. I believe the hops are Columbus...the smell reminds me of a beer I brewed using Columbus hops...I could be wrong on this though. Anyway, I'm partial to a strong hop presence over roasted malts in my IPAs, so I'm excited about this one.

T: You actually can taste the roasted malts in the initial drink, however, the strong hop profile takes over from there. I really like the taste of this beer...At first, I thought the hop profile faded too quickly, but now that I've drank 1/2 of it, that taste is just sticking around...which I'm pretty happy about. However, I do warn people who usually like this style because of the Roasted Malts, that you will probably be disappointed, as that is not where this beer shines. The roasted malts are a nice addition to a beer that shines in other ways that I just discussed.

M: Mid-light body for the style. It wasn't as watery as it looked, thank goodness. It has a dryer finish (thank you cotton-mouth hops!) that makes you want to drink more.

O: I want to say that this is my favorite Black IPA that I've had. Although, I really liked Stone's as well. I'd have to try them side by side to compare. If you prefer a hops-forward profile over roasted malts in your Black IPAs, then you'll enjoy ANGER. I do, so this beer is solid in my opinion. Well done Greenbush!

A: Pours a light black color with dark brown edges where the light catches it. A light tan head forms on the pour and dissipates to a thin collar. It leaves some nice soapy webbing behind.

S: The nose has some fruity citrus hops with some nice roasted malts and some light bitter chocolate. Pretty standard, but good.

T: Wow, the taste is significantly better than the nose. There is a great combination of citrus hop flavors with a nice roasted oat malt body. The bitter chocolate provides a nice base for the citrus and there is also a light coffee bean flavor that plays off the lingering hop flavor. The finish is roasty with a light pine.

M: Medium bodied with a nice carbonation. The finish is refreshing with a drying, roasted finish.

O: Very solid. Really well done with the green hops lingering in the background while the roasted malts and chocolate flavors were upfront. Nicely done Greenbush.

A: Killer bootstrap brown. A good pour yields a 3+ finger head and monster gobs of lacing.

S: Earthy mud and robust hop oil. There's a big dose of malts that round out the bouquet.

T: Bitingly hoppy, and for a beer with a moderate IPA, I'm quite impressed. It certainly comes across as the hoppiest Black Ale I've quaffed to date.

M: A bit overcarbed, which downshifts the entire beer. As I swirl it in my glass a bit, it helps to loosen the carb's death grip and opens 'er up.

O: For a style I don't normally reach for, Greenbush has put together a killer ABA with their Anger. The hops are the first, last and everything in this beer, yet the dark malt really adds a killer complexity to it. Recommended.

Reviewing the Anger from Greenbush Brewing Company out of Michigan. This is a relatively new brewery, and I believed they opened less than a year ago.
Score: 90

16 oz tap pour served in a pint glass at Kuma's Corner in Chicago. Kuma's has some of the best food in the city, and they always have interesting stuff on tap. Last time I stopped in to eat they had Surly Darkness on tap. It was too dark in the restaurant to snap a picture, and this is a draft only beer right now. Alas, no picture.

Appearance: Pours a black coffee color with a thin layer of tan head. Mostly opaque with brown highlights at the top of the glass. Pretty good lacing. 4/5

Taste: Tastes like a pale ale bookended with light stout qualities. Light raisin and a hint of chocolate up front and in the finish. Earthy, piney hops bitterness and roasted maltiness on the midpalate. There's a little bit of citrus cutting thru the roasty maltiness too. Finish has some bitter hops flavor. More chocolate and dark fruit characteristics in the finish as it layers. A really solid brew. 4/5

A- Black, quite black. A bit of burgundy around the edges when held up to the light, with a healthy tan head resting on top. Good lacing, great head retention.

S- Nice! First thing to jump out of the glass is the hops: floral, slight citrus, a hint of tropical fruit, and peaches and cream. This is coupled with a nice wave of milk chocolate and a bit of roasted malt. As the beer warms, the peaches and cream becomes less prominent and the milk chocolate comes more to the front.

T- Follows the nose, with more of the roast coming through in the taste, and the beer leaves more lingering bitterness than the aroma would have suggested. I think this is a good balance between hop character and caramel/roasted malt presence, which is what we all seem to seek out in a black ipa.

M- This is the one area in which I don't think this brew performs quite as well. It's still good, good carbonation, creamy, medium-bodied mouthfeel, but it leaves a slightly harsh finish that just doesn't sit quite right on my palatte. I will, however, give this beer credit for disguising the 7.6% abv...no alcohol presence at all, well done.

O- Great beer and I'm glad I had the chance to try this...really makes me want to get my hands on some more Greenbush brews. My buddy Matt clued me in on the great things that this brewery is putting out, and he's definitely right. If Greenbush isn't on your radar now, it will be soon.

A-Pours a deep dark brown pretty much black. One finger dark tan head rises and fades away to spotty lacing rather quickly.

S- This beer has the perfect balance in the aroma with the roasted malts and bittering hops playing the two major parts with light bitter chocolate and settle alcohol bringing up the the rest of the aroma.

T- The roasted malts in the front give way to a hint of bitter chocolate. The malts do a good job of not overkilling the palate in the front and you can tell when the light grassy hops and citrus hops kick in right afterward. The ending of the beer is a balance of roasted malts and hints of citrus hops to me.

M- Medium mouthfeel. Carbonation I think is perfect for this beer. Medium alcohol drying on the palate with each sip. Clean roasted malts and hints of bitter hops are left on the palate. Aftertaste is mostly alcohol, citrusy hops, and clean roasted malts. Flavors were very balanced for this style with no off flavors present while drinking this beer.

O- This has got to be one of the best Black IPA's I have had. One of my favorite beers from Greenbush and a style they do well. The balance between roast and hop without overdoing either or is something a lot of brewers could take a lesson on. Fantastic beer

O - A really great Black IPA that I would keep drinking over and over. I knew nothings about Greenbush before drinking this beer and now I'm inclined to try some of their other offerings. This one is a winner!

Growler picked up by Dave (dschuster03). Served in a Russian River tulip. This is an American Black Ale - not a "Belgian IPA"?!

A - A half-finger of tan foam settles to a thin ring, wispy cap, and tiny dots of lace. The body is a dark brown color.

S - Smell is great - exactly what I want from this style. It's a blend of roasted malts, chocolate, floral and grassy hops, and perhaps a touch of citrus.

T - The taste is also quite nice, with a blend of roastiness, chocolate, and citrus hop flavors. This thankfully lacks the char, ash, and astringent black malt flavors I get from many Black IPAs.

M - Medium body, moderate carbonation, and a grainy and somewhat gritty texture. There's some mild stickiness in the finish. Could stand to be a bit softer here.

D - A very enjoyable Black IPA, and much better than almost all of the ones available in the Chicago area. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that Greenbush sends a few kegs of this one our way, as I'd love to revisit it without having to make the long trek to Sawyer. My second experience with this brewery, and they're two for two.